Pol Espargaro never hid it and he even said it as soon as he signed his Repsol Honda contract. He arrives in Marc Marquez's lair to beat him, and it will be the challenge of his career. If he fails, he will just have to go home. In view of the fates suffered by Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo, his predecessors with a more extensive track record, we say to ourselves that the former KTM is not afraid. However, things changed at Honda with the injury of the eight-time World Champion, as on the RC213V. Furthermore, Marc Marquez takes the one with whom he has played since his childhood on the slopes very seriously. Before flying to Qatar which will launch the MotoGP season, Pol Espargaró makes his final confidences ...
Pol Espargaro settles into his pilot status Repsol Honda and the various presentations, including the official one with Marc Marquez, put him in the mood. But now he would really like to try it on an RC213V with which he will ride for the first time next week on the track of losail. In the meantime, he got his hands on a CBRR-R in Montmelo which redid its turn 10… He gives his opinion and more in this interview Repsol.
How did the first contact with the renovation work on turn 10 go?
" It was very good. We have been racing here for many years now, and when we first started racing here, this corner was particularly different from other race tracks. I think the bend has improved and regained what was lost in the last work. Now I think it goes better with motorcycles than cars”.
Do you think this modification is good for your riding style?
“I think this modification is good for riders who have top cornering speed or who ride motorcycles at high cornering speeds. The corner is very fast, and I normally tend to brake very late and stop the bike in the middle of the corner. Anyway, we will find a solution in June.”
Do you think the Honda will perform well at turn 10?
" I hope so. We have lots of options. Even though at first it won't be the perfect corner for Honda and me, using technique and some mechanical changes we can tune the bike and it won't be a problem.
Pol Espargaro: " I can not wait to be there "
Did the virtual presentation help you realize that you are now a Repsol Honda Team rider?
“Yes, I’m still getting used to it. It's still a little strange to see myself in these colors, but I'm gradually feeling more comfortable in them. Knowing that in Qatar I will be wearing the Repsol Honda jersey and I'm really looking forward to it.".
Are you impressed by the media impact of the presentation?
" It's certain. Being in this team means the riders are fast and they have a lot of attention from the media and a lot of people around the Repsol Honda team. I think I'll get used to it, but This will be one of the hardest things I will have to deal with"
How was your first test with the Honda motorcycle?
" It was really good. The weather was perfect, so we enjoyed the bike a lot, but it's completely different from MotoGP. “That’s why I’m really looking forward to going to Qatar, to see the difference between these two disciplines and the ones I’m going to ride there.”
What do you expect from your first two tests in Qatar?
“It’s hard to wait for something. I'm really looking forward to it and seeing myself with this bike. I dreamed of this moment a lot and I feel that I can perform well with Repsol Honda. I still have to wait a few days, and they will be long« .
